The Impostor Syndrome and Writing

Did you know we all hear internal, negative voices telling us we are little more than a pretender, a fraud at what we do every day – be it our career, our parenting, our pastimes? It’s called the Impostor Syndrome.* There even are professional career coaches whose business involves teaching us how to cope with this affliction. Judging from the number of articles, blog postings, and newsletters that deal with the doubts that assail anyone daring to label themselves a “writer,” this ailment seems to flourish in the writing community.

So what are the qualifications that make one a card-carrying impostor?

You feel like a pretender who does not deserve success.

You don’t recognize your accomplishments for what they are.

If you are even minimally successful, it must be due to dumb luck or a good break.

Even when you get a positive review, you tell yourself, “Guess I fooled them again. How long it will be before the true me is exposed when they figure out I’m just faking it?”

How do you deal with this “internal editor” nagging in your inner ear?

Journaling can help you recognize the flavor and frequency of negative thinking.